Outstanding young New Zealand midfielder Emily Naylor (18) has been nominated for the prestigious 2004 World Hockey Women’s Player of the Year Award.
The nominations were announced this week at the BDO Champions Trophy in Rosario, Argentina.
Nominations were proposed by an international panel of expert coaches and journalists comprising legendary former Australian coach Ric Charlesworth, and current Dutch Coach Marc Lammers together with Cathy Harris (The Times – GB); Bruce Hamilton (AFP, Aust) and Graciela Ortiz (Herald, Arg).
The Winners will be presented at a short press conference on Friday 12th November, Argentinean time (exact time yet to be confirmed.)
For the first time, the award winners will be determined by a secret ballot of the players competing at the tournament. Players will vote for their choice of the best player, taking into account performances at the following major FIH and IOC events in 2004: Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Auckland, March 2004; Olympic Games, Athens, August 2004 and the BDO Hockey Champions Trophy, Rosario, November 2004.

Nominations – WorldHockey Women’s Young Player of the Year 2004:
(under 23 age limit, as of 1st January 2004)
1. Soledad Garcia (ARG)
2. Miek van Geenhuizen (NED)
3. Anke Kuhn (GER)
4. Emily Naylor (NZL)
5. Esther Termens (ESP)
Naylor was the surprise package of 2004. She was selected to attend an Olympic Qualifying training camp in late 2003 after performing well for the NZ Under 18 Team. Not only did she make the squad for the Olympic Hockey Qualifier but was subsequently picked for the 2004 Olympic team at 18.
Naylor has developed quickly into an integral member of the team as an attacking right half. She is skilful and quick and plays with a composure that belies her years, both on attack and under pressure on defence.
This year’s WorldHockey Women’s Player of the Year nominations are as follows:
Nominations - WorldHockey Women’s Player of the Year 2004
1. Luciana Aymar (ARG)
2. Fu Baorong (CHN)
3. Rachel Imison (AUS)
4. Natascha Keller (GER)
5. Tetyana Kobzenko (UKR)
6. Kim Yun Mi (KOR)
7. Sakae Morimoto (JAP)
8. Fanny Rinne (GER)
9. Maartje Scheepstra (NED)
10. Janneke Schopman (NED)
Nominations and presentations for the WorldHockey Men’s Player of the Year will take place in December, at the Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy, Men in Lahore.